“They all look so good,” Ethan said. “I can’t decide.”
“I’ll pick one out for you, Daddy.” Hannah selected a long maple bar, placed it on a napkin, and handed it to him.
“Thanks, button,” Ethan said.
“You shouldn’t be thanking me, you should thank Zoe,” Hannah said.
“Thank you, Zoe,” Ethan said.
“Hey, I heard about the break-in at the gallery,” Courtney said.
Ethan’s shoulders sank.
“Although I can’t imagine anyone trying to haul away one of your paintings,” Courtney said.
“That’s terrible,” Zoe said. She hadn’t heard about the theft.
“Don’t worry, I’ll still make the rent this month,” Ethan told her.
“They stole Tomato Face,” Hannah told them.
“Tomato Face?” Courtney asked.
“It’s what Hannah calls a piece a local businessman, Harold Facer, commissioned.”
“And it looks just like him.”
“Yeah, it does. But then he didn’t like it because he said it made him look too baby-faced.”
“Tomato-faced,” Hannah corrected him.
“Sometimes art can be too honest,” Ethan said. “I’ve since learned it’s better to err on the side of flattery.”
“You didn’t love this statue?” Zoe leaned against her mop.
“I did.” Ethan shook himself and laughed. “I can see why Mr. Facer doesn’t love it, but strangely, I’d grown attached to it.” He scratched his head. “It’s a weird thing for a thief to steal.”
“Was anything else taken?” Courtney asked.
Ethan blinked. “Quite a bit, actually. All the money in the till, several smaller pieces...”
“It doesn’t matter because we’re rich now,” Hannah interrupted him.
Zoe blinked. “I’m glad to hear it.”
“Me too,” Ethan said.
“God answered our prayers and we’re going to buy a gallery,” Hannah said.
Ethan shook his head. “We can’t buy the gallery if Mr. Desmond isn’t interested in selling it.”
“That’s right. We’re looking for another one,” Hannah said as if she’d forgotten. “Come on, Daddy, we better get back out there.”
“You’re searching for another gallery?” Courtney asked.
Ethan answered with a shrug.
“Why don’t you hang some of your paintings in here?” Courtney asked.
